Assessment of Demirjian stage of third molar which can accurately predict 18 years of age in North Indian population

Abstract

Background: According to section 3(1) of the Indian Majority Act 1875 every person domiciled in India shall attain the age of majority on completion of 18 years and not before. Demirjian described the 8 stages of development of teeth. Third molar development occurs around the age of 18 years. So, if we can determine that which Demirjian stage/stages of third molar show that the person is below 18 years and which Demirjian stage/stages of third molar show that the person is above 18 years of age, then it can be very helpful for the medicolegal cases where any legal document for age is not available.Materials and Methods: In this study, 101 OPG radiographs of north Indian patients with a known chronological age between 14 to 25 years were taken from Department of orthodontics, Darshan dental college and hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan. Total 371 third molars were seen on these radiographs. The stages of third molar development were assessed using the eight-stage scheme developed by Demirjian and then these stages were to be co-related with chronological age. Then mean age was evaluated for each stage of third molar. Then stages below 18 years of age and stages above 18 years of age were evaluated.Results and Observation: Data revealed that at stage C, a person was probably be below 18 years (minor) and at stage H an individual was probably be above18 years (Major). Conclusion: The stages of third molar development can be reliably used to estimate the chronological age of an individual in his late teens to early twenties and at stage H an individual is probably be above18 years depicting third molar root completion and at stage C an individual is probably below 18 years of age depicting third molar root in developing position. So, in living individual, third molar maturity is the best age estimation method as it is non-invasive and usable dental images are easily obtained.